Either ban smoking or make smoking legal. Either ban Niqab driving or make Niqab driving legal. Do not make it illegal and then not enforce the law. That causes a violent society.
Gulf Business has published a hard hitting article by Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa on the rise of violence in Kuwait. In the article Dr. Naif talks about the recent mall crimes that have been taking place and how the lack of law enforcement in day to day life could be a possible reason behind the rise in violence. It’s a very opinionated piece which for some odd reason reminded me of the novel Lord of the Flies. The article is around a page and half long but worth the read so check it out [Here]
24 replies on “The Rise of Violence in Kuwait”
“Example two: The number of citations issued in Kuwait against women driving with veils on their face (niqabs or burqas) has been steadily falling, the latest figures from the Central Statistics Department (CSD) indicate…
The reason could also be more leniency from traffic policemen now getting used to seeing veiled women drivers, the paper said. Let me tell you a secret. The numbers did not go down. The rule is unenforced.”
While I agree that the level of enforcement is a joke when it comes to things like this, what were you supposed to enforce to prevent a stabbing? No groups of young men allowed to roam malls anymore? Ban all knives from being sold? Strip search the thousands of people coming into and out of the mall?
That’s not what he’s saying. It’s bigger than just one thing like a smoking ban or speeding or whatever.
The idea I understood is this. As a kid growing up if I did something wrong I was punished. This allowed me to understand that there was a consequence to my actions. But if you grow up and do something wrong and get away with it, your attitude towards the system and society changes. You no longer respect the law because kinda like how those poor security guards at the avenues mall parking aren’t respected at all. They’re there to guide you through the parking but if you decide to go the wrong way which I have seen people do a number of times, the security worker can’t and won’t do anything about it and the driver cares less.
I think this is why it reminded me of Lord of the Flies. Slowly you end up in a lawless state.
Security guards in Kuwait has no value,they are treated like shit just cos they are expats,same kind of security guards in west have so much power as much as a cop !
They’re treated like shit because they have no power and not because they are expats. Power = Respect.
“same kind of security guards in west have so much power as much as a cop !”
What? No. They can’t arrest you, they aren’t police. In some places they can’t even touch you, all they can do is call the police. I think Australia is the exception.
Yes they can arrest you and keep in their custody till the real cops come !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_arrest
It’s not just a Kuwaiti phenomenon. There is a distinct absence of personal accountability in the States as well. As long as societies tolerate unacceptable behavior, it will only get worse.
Thought-provoking article, but needs editing for grammar and clarity.
+1,000,000 Seriously, couldn’t the editor help him out?
The talk last night in AUK touched on a lot of this and went into detail about how we got to this point. Really interesting.
Reminds me of the “Broken Windows” theory that was implemented by Mayor Rudy Guiliani of New York City in the 90s, to clean up the city. It worked wonders, considering that Times Square was a hotbed of prostitution back then, and is now a glitzy tourist trap. Basically, when you start clamping down early on the small violations, you nip the potential large violations in the bud. A lack of respect for the law has been inculcated in the youth of Kuwait, largely because of seeing how violations go unpunished, both by the parents and by the law. This lackadaisical mentality is the reason the crime has gone up now.
Rudy was instrumental in turning around New York. I’m afraid the newly elected Mayor will undo all that.
I completely understand what point he’s trying to bring to the table, it makes sense, it’s like raising a child to know from right and wrong and to expect consequences, may they be good or bad for their actions! However it’s a shame because the system is corrupt, laws are not enforced if you know people in high places then you can get away with such violations no matter how little they may be. People use wasta as a get out of jail free card, and the arrogance is so rife it’s no wonder there is no mutual respect among the citizens and expats, unless the other person has a lot of power then the attitude changes! sorry. It’s shameful, our beautiful country has so much potential.
The Quran taught us to be humble people, nowa days people are acting like ruthless animals 🙁
The country is still young, hopefully the law will be greater implemented in the future. I have high hopes for the up and coming generations to create a safer society that respects authority no matter who they may be.
What he should have said is “Kuwait needs a hero”.
Wow. Thoughtful and productive article. He states the problem and also has a solution – either enforce the law or take the law off the books.
I like that he also brings in the benefit of consistent and thoughtful parenting to raise children with respect for the law.
He could have brought up the driving laws, LOL. Almost every law on the books, from the requirements for licenses to the enforcement of serious violations of the law is ignored.
As a country, we’re more reactive than proactive. You
cannot isolate one act of misdemeanor while sweeping the other 99
under the rug and expect to find a result. Enforcement would not be
needed if we were inculcated with the fear of consequences to begin
with.
1950s – Parents raised their kids
1970s – “Nannies” raised their kids
1980s – Nannies raised kids
1990 – War broke out maybe 10% remained in Kuwait ?
2000s – Nannies raised kids
2010s – Nannies raised kids
Lets see, we have a generation that was raised by nannies with some input on rearing them by their parents. Then those kids grew up and became parents where the nanny took care of them.
You are asking a generation which knows little about ethics and how to treat others to all of a sudden “work” and to “follow the law” when there was little law in their households.
My dad slapped me when I was a kid because I pretended to smoke with a straw. Tobacco never fell on my lips ever since then.
There used to be a law for cleanliness قانون النظافة wonder how many remember how that was enforced and where it is now ….
BTW the government can never be the P in PG as the author says.
Wholeheartedly concur. It all starts at home.
Maids, not nannies. Nannies are hired specifically to look after children, maids have to do a ton of work and watch the kids all at once.
And yes, I agree that this is something people should have learned as children, but we have to start somewhere. It doesn’t matter if people are unhappy about it, if there’s enforcement they’re gonna have to start falling in line for their own sakes. It has always baffled me how Kuwait has such a “fix it later” attitude to things, while prevention is unheard of.
I hate calling them maids and call them domestic assistants, but irrespective of the nomenclature, if you have one person caring for the whole home and kids thats just stupid. We aren’t short on stupid unfortunately, its rampant everywhere.
I like the overall message that the article is trying to convey.
In a country like Kuwait, the government should act like a parent to its citizens. But right now its a bad parent, giving its children money and no guidance or consequences.
In Kuwait when someone is caught by authorities for doing something wrong and actually really has to pay the consequence they say that “they have been wronged”. No…you did wrong and you are going through the unpleasant CONSEQUENCES. But the sensation is so foreign to them that they don’t even recognise what is happening.
How many people reading this actually respect the police in Kuwait? Do any of you get the same feeling when you see a policeman here in Kuwait that you get when you see a policeman in London? Think of going through the airport here and in Heathrow. (don’t be offended, you know what I mean) Here they are just acting a theatrical role of a policeman. There, they are doing police work. There is a difference.
P.s. to those police here in Kuwait that are trying to do their jobs against the will of their fellow policeman and population, I thank you and hope to see more of you.
Hooray for Dr Naïf. Takes courage to write like that. Kuwait’s own voices can eventually change Kuwait. So where are the other voices? I have some students who I hope will eventually become voices for change.
It would be interesting to list all the “rules” that have been brought in, but unenforced.
Smoking in public places
Niqag while driving
mobile phone while driving
driving on emergency lanes.
The author has some great logic behind his argument. When citizens are allowed to get away with virtually anything, then they begin to believe that they have the right to do anything they want. Almost a sense of infallabilty or superhuman-ness.
When they are questioned or taken to task or encounter resistance, they react with enormous anger and aggression. How dare someone question their “right” to do or say something? Even the simplest hurdle is met with massive anger and violence.
The overly “mothered”, overly mollycoddled, overly protected citizens are indeed going to become even more violent when the government breaks the bad news to them – that these government handouts are going to stop. That they will have to do a proper day’s work, that they will have to follow the laws like everyone else, that they will have to pay workers a decent wage and treat them as humans.
The gradual stopping of the handouts has already been mooted and it will have to roll out soon. Kuwait cannot bank-roll its population for too much longer.
The poor treatment of workers in Qatar was a main article in the news today. It has embarrassed Qatar and will affect its reputation and world standing. They haven’t even started to look at the abuse in Kuwait.
The government here will have to be careful over the next few years. It must implement much needed reforms with great care and thought and avoid an escalation of violence – much of which would probably be directed at the poor, suffering and innocent “working class”.